Flavorful Authentic Carne Asada Tacos
These flavorful authentic carne asada tacos feature a perfectly marinated flank or skirt steak grilled to juicy perfection, topped with fresh cilantro, onions, and a squeeze of lime for a nostalgic and delicious taco experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 tacos (4 servings) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds flank steak or skirt steak (well-marbled for juiciness)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 2 limes (about 4 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 small corn tortillas (can swap for flour tortillas)
- 1 small white onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1–2 fresh limes, cut into wedges
- Optional: sliced jalapeños
- Optional toppings: crumbled queso fresco or shredded Cotija cheese
- Optional toppings: avocado slices or guacamole
- Optional toppings: pico de gallo or fresh salsa
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade by combining minced garlic, lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk until well blended.
- Place the flank or skirt steak into the marinade, turning to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2-3 hours.
- Preheat grill or cast-iron pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill grates if using a grill.
- Remove steak from marinade, letting excess drip off. Cook on grill or pan for 4-5 minutes per side for medium rare (130°F internal temperature). Adjust time for desired doneness.
- Transfer steak to a cutting board and loosely cover with foil. Let rest for 5-10 minutes.
- While steak rests, chop onion and cilantro, slice jalapeños if using, and cut limes into wedges. Warm tortillas on grill or in a dry skillet until soft.
- Slice steak thinly against the grain.
- Assemble tacos by placing sliced steak on warm tortillas, topping with onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Add optional toppings as desired.
Notes
Marinate steak for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2-3 hours or overnight for best flavor. Rest steak after cooking to retain juices. Slice against the grain for tenderness. Warm tortillas before assembling to prevent tearing. Use tongs to flip steak to keep juices inside. For gluten-free, use corn tortillas and check toppings. Optional toppings can be added for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos per serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 28
Keywords: carne asada, tacos, Mexican, grilled steak, easy dinner, authentic recipe, lime, cilantro, flank steak